Off to Mexico

February 2022

Once again it's February!

February is the slowest months in my business and I miss my friends and family in Mexico!

February means, cold weather, lots of staying inside to hide from the chill outside and a low activity level. I’ve found that the less I move, the less I move. Said another way, laziness begets laziness. I’m always amazed as to how hard it is to get up and get going each winter, but that’s about to change! Time for another trip down South!

I’m honored and excited to be returning to Colima, Mexico to hangout with my friends and family at Hogar de Amor Orphanage! This is a group of people that have made it their life's calling to care and love on children that have been victims of this world.

These children end up at the orphanage for many of the same reasons they do at any orphanage. The children are sometimes neglected and abused. Drugs, alcohol use and jail time could also be a part of their family life. Sometimes it can be as simple as the parent feeling as if they don’t have the ability to care for the child (which of us hasn’t felt that!).

Parents can feel helpless and hopeless. 

I feel that in Mexico, when a child ends up at the orphanage, it's a bigger deal than anywhere else I’ve ever known. Mexicans are known for their family oriented lifestyle. It’s common that many generations will live together, work together and share responsibilities, such as raising each others children.

When a child is placed into this type of care, it’s not only the parent, but also the rest of the extended family that has given up on the child or the ability to care for the child.

As I see these children, I can sometimes catch a glimpse of their pain

I’ve been going to Hogar de Amor Orphanage each year for one, two or even up to four weeks at a time for the last ten years. The kids and adults at this place feel like family. At each visit they welcome me with open arms and open homes. It’s always fun to see the kids that have grown and matured and how they are embracing who they are and who they were meant to be.

Because I have gone so long, I’ve seen:

2 year olds grow to be 12

5 year olds grow to be 15

10 year olds grow to be 20

I’ve even seen 17 year olds grow to be 27

Join me on my trip this year by subscribing to this blogspot and you will receive updates as my 3 week long visit progresses. As I open up about this personal side of my life, you will experience my love for these people, the fun we’ll have and perhaps even some of my personal struggles as I allow God to work in me and change me to better reflect His glory.

Sometimes these kids just need someone that feels like family to keep showing up, someone that they know is thinking of them and praying for them. When I arrive, it’s an honor that they all come running to me and call me Tío (uncle).

I love my extended family

My wish is that you will pray for my trip, my travel, my safety, my health, my interaction with each person that I visit with and my representation of Christ in everything that I do.